NCT03504241

Brief Summary

Anti-rejection medicines, also known as immunosuppressive drugs, are prescribed to organ transplant recipients to prevent rejection of the new organ. Long-term use of these medicines places transplant recipients at higher risk of serious infections and certain types of cancer. The purpose of this study is to determine if:

  • it is safe to give mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) to kidney transplant recipients, and
  • the combination of the immunosuppressive (anti-rejection) study drugs plus the MSCs can allow a kidney transplant recipient to slowly reduce and/or then completely stop all anti-rejection drugs, without rejection of their kidney (renal) allograft, a process called "immunosuppression withdrawal".

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
8

participants targeted

Target at below P25 for phase_1

Timeline
Completed

Started Jul 2018

Longer than P75 for phase_1

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

April 12, 2018

Completed
8 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

April 20, 2018

Completed
3 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

July 30, 2018

Completed
5.1 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

September 6, 2023

Completed
2 years until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

September 16, 2025

Completed
Last Updated

February 13, 2026

Status Verified

February 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

5.1 years

First QC Date

April 12, 2018

Last Update Submit

February 10, 2026

Conditions

Keywords

mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs)anti-rejection drugsoperational tolerance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Proportion of Participants who Achieve Operational Tolerance

    Operational tolerance (to their kidney transplant) defined by participant remaining off all immunosuppression for 52 weeks after completion of Immunosuppression Withdrawal (ISW) with: * No evidence of biopsy-proven allograft rejection after initiation of ISW; * Acceptable renal function, defined as an estimated GFR \> 60 ml/min/1.73cm\^2 calculated using the CKD-EPI equation or a serum creatinine that has increased no more than 25% above baseline, as assessed at the week 52 visit after completion of ISW; * No evidence of sustained transplant renal derived pathologic proteinuria, defined as a persistent protein creatinine ratio of greater than 0.5; and * No Donor Specific Antibodies (DSA) at any time after completion of ISW.

    52 weeks after completion of Immunosuppression Withdrawal (ISW)

Secondary Outcomes (11)

  • Proportion of Participants who Remain Off Immunosuppression

    From ISW completion to end of study participation (up to approximately 5 years)

  • Proportion of Participants who Return to Immunosuppression

    From ISW completion to end of study participation (up to approximately 5 years)

  • Proportion of Participants who Achieve Belatacept Monotherapy

    48 weeks from the time of last sirolimus dose

  • Proportion of Participants who Die

    From kidney transplant with alemtuzumab induction to to completion of study (up to approximately 6.5 years)

  • Time from Transplant to the First Episode of Rejection

    From kidney transplantation to completion of study (up to approximately 7 years)

  • +6 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (2)

MSCs 10^4 cells/kg+anti-rejection drugs

EXPERIMENTAL

The first dosing cohort of 2 participants will receive 12 infusions of 10\^4 donor-derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) cells/kg every 4-weeks.

Biological: Donor-derived Mesenchymal Stromal CellsDrug: alemtuzumabDrug: belataceptDrug: sirolimusDrug: mycophenolate mofetilDrug: mycophenolate acidDrug: prednisone

MSCs 10^5 cells/kg+anti-rejection drugs

EXPERIMENTAL

If the first 3 infusions of 10\^4 donor-derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) cells/kg are well tolerated, this cohort of 2 participants will receive 12 infusions of 10\^5 cells/kg every 4-weeks.

Biological: Donor-derived Mesenchymal Stromal CellsDrug: alemtuzumabDrug: belataceptDrug: sirolimusDrug: mycophenolate mofetilDrug: mycophenolate acidDrug: prednisone

Interventions

Per protocol, and, only permitted in cases of sirolimus intolerance.

Also known as: Myfortic®
MSCs 10^4 cells/kg+anti-rejection drugsMSCs 10^5 cells/kg+anti-rejection drugs

Per protocol, and, only permitted in cases of sirolimus intolerance.

Also known as: corticosteroid
MSCs 10^4 cells/kg+anti-rejection drugsMSCs 10^5 cells/kg+anti-rejection drugs

These MSCs are a cellular product derived from bone marrow and propagated ex vivo using FDA-approved, clinically applicable methods. Their use in kidney transplantation has been associated with a good safety profile.

Also known as: Donor-derived MSCs, human bone marrow derived MSCs, hBM-MSC, EPIC-MSC-ITN2015-IVF-0X
MSCs 10^4 cells/kg+anti-rejection drugsMSCs 10^5 cells/kg+anti-rejection drugs

Alemtuzumab, 30 mg, given once intravenously (IV) over three hours. The infusion of alemtuzumab shall begin within 24 hours of transplantation surgery and shall be given prior to the first dose of belatacept.

Also known as: Campath®, Lemtrada®
MSCs 10^4 cells/kg+anti-rejection drugsMSCs 10^5 cells/kg+anti-rejection drugs

Belatacept will be given as an intravenous (IV) infusion of 10mg /kg over 1 hour on transplantation postoperative Day 0, Days 5 and 14, then every 2 weeks (± 2 days) for 5 additional doses.Thereafter, belatacept will be given once every 4 weeks (± 5 days) at 10 mg/kg through 24 weeks post-transplant, then at 5 mg/kg every 4-weeks until the participant is evaluated for belatacept discontinuation.

Also known as: Nulojix®, LEA29Y
MSCs 10^4 cells/kg+anti-rejection drugsMSCs 10^5 cells/kg+anti-rejection drugs

Rapamune® (sirolimus) (Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc., Philadelphia, PA) will be started on transplantation postoperative day 1 at a dose of 2 mg/day orally and adjusted to maintain goal 24-hour trough levels of 8-10 ng/ml. Participants who experience grade 3 sirolimus toxicity will undergo dose reduction.

Also known as: Rapamune®
MSCs 10^4 cells/kg+anti-rejection drugsMSCs 10^5 cells/kg+anti-rejection drugs

Per protocol, and, only permitted in cases of sirolimus intolerance.

Also known as: CellCept®
MSCs 10^4 cells/kg+anti-rejection drugsMSCs 10^5 cells/kg+anti-rejection drugs

Eligibility Criteria

Age19 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Recipient:
  • Adult candidates of an human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-non-identical, living-donor kidney transplant:
  • Candidates must meet the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) criteria, including laboratory criteria, for transplant listing;
  • Evidence of established immunity to Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) as demonstrated by serologic testing;
  • Serological evidence of prior Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection if donor is CMV positive;
  • For women of child bearing potential:
  • A negative serum or urine pregnancy test with sensitivity of less than 50 mIU/mL within 72 hours of start of study medication; and
  • Agreement to use contraception:
  • \--- According to the FDA Office of Women's Health (http://www.fda.gov/birthcontrol), there are a number of birth control methods that are more than 80% effective
  • Female recipients of child-bearing potential must consult with their physician and determine the most suitable method(s) from this list to be used for 18 months after the first dose of study therapy.
  • Donor:
  • Meets institutional selection criteria for organ and bone marrow donation:
  • All donors will be screened and tested in accordance with:
  • (i) FDA 21 CRF 1271.85 requirements for donors of human cells, tissues, and cellular- and tissue-based products (HCT/P); and
  • (ii) standards for living kidney donors testing for infection established by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS).
  • +1 more criteria

You may not qualify if:

  • Recipient:
  • History of any immunodeficiency syndrome (including Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) and HIV-2);
  • Positive anti-Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), anti-Hepatitis C Virus (HBV) PCR, or HBV surface antigen;
  • History of malignancy within 5 years of enrollment or any history of hematogenous malignancy or lymphoma; --Exception: Participants with curatively treated non-melanomatous skin cancer or curatively treated cervical carcinoma in situ may be enrolled.
  • Underlying renal disease with high likelihood of recurrence, including but not limited to:
  • primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS),
  • Type I or II membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN),
  • hemolytic-uremic syndrome and
  • thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (HUS/TTP) syndrome. ---Subject(s) with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) of unknown etiology and/or has no histologically confirmed diagnosis, may be enrolled into the study as long as there are no clinical signs or symptoms consistent with excluded clinical diagnoses.
  • History of active M. tuberculosis:
  • Participants with a history of latent M. tuberculosis (LTB) as defined by positive testing for tuberculosis using an approved IGRA blood test, such as QuantiFERON®-Gold TB or T-SPOT-TB assay must:
  • have completed treatment for LTB and
  • have a negative chest x-ray. ----All participants will undergo IGRA testing for M tuberculosis within 3 months prior to transplant.
  • Current or historical evidence of donor-specific antibody;
  • Immunosuppressive drug therapy within one year prior to enrollment.
  • +17 more criteria

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Duke University Health System

Durham, North Carolina, 27710, United States

Location

Related Links

MeSH Terms

Interventions

AlemtuzumabAbataceptSirolimusMycophenolic AcidPrednisoneAdrenal Cortex Hormones

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Antibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedAntibodies, MonoclonalAntibodiesImmunoglobulinsImmunoproteinsBlood ProteinsProteinsAmino Acids, Peptides, and ProteinsSerum GlobulinsGlobulinsImmunoconjugatesMacrolidesLactonesOrganic ChemicalsCaproatesAcids, AcyclicCarboxylic AcidsFatty AcidsLipidsPregnadienediolsPregnadienesPregnanesSteroidsFused-Ring CompoundsPolycyclic CompoundsHormonesHormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists

Study Officials

  • Allan D. Kirk, M.D., Ph.D.

    Duke University Medical Center: Transplantation

    STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 1
Allocation
NON RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
NIH
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

April 12, 2018

First Posted

April 20, 2018

Study Start

July 30, 2018

Primary Completion

September 6, 2023

Study Completion

September 16, 2025

Last Updated

February 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will share

The plan is to share data upon completion of the study in ImmPort, a long-term archive of clinical and mechanistic data from DAIT-funded grants and contracts.

Time Frame
The aim is to share data available to the public within 24 months upon completion of the study.
Access Criteria
ImmPort public data access.
More information

Locations